tucker



(No Model.)

W. H. TUCKER.

(FASTER.

No. 592,484. Patented Oct-26, 1897.

wue/wbo e TOIi IV UNrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM II. TUCKER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PHOENIX CASTER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CASTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,484, dated October 26, 1897.

Application filed April 3,1897. Serial No. 630,503. (No model.)

1'0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. TUCKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casters, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relates to that class of casters which have small antifriction wheels or rollers interposed between the bearingplate and housing to receive and carry the load; and it mainly consists in certain improvements in the details of construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a cas-- ter embodying my present invention; Fig. 2, a central sectional view of the same on an en larged scale; Fig. 3, an under side plan view of the bearing-plate, antifriction wheels or rollers, and annular recessed ring as they appear when separated from the housing and castenwheel; Fig. 4, a top or plan View of the housing and caster-wheel separately, and Fig. 5 a top or plan view of the recessed ring separately.

In said drawings the portion marked A represents the bearing-plate of the caster; B, the housing; C, the recessed ring, and D the antifriction wheels or rollers.

The bearing-plate A is adapted to be secured to the article of furniture to which the caster is applied. It has a central hollow stem which passes down through a corresponding orifice in the plate portion of the housing B and is provided with the flange a,

which serves to retain the antifriction wheels or rollers D in use.

The housing B is arranged to carry the caster-wheel B and is secured to the bearingplate A by means of therivet r, as best shown in Fig. 2. It preferably has an annular flange b,upon which the ring C rests, and which also, in connection with said ring and its flange, forms the inner wall of the space within which the antifriction wheels or rollers D are confined.

The ring C has several recesses cut in its edge, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and within the recesses so formed the antifriction wheels or rollers D are placed. On its upper side it has a flange c, which extends up toward the bearing-plate A, and which is substantially in line with the flange b when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 2, and thus serves also as a part of the inner retaining-wall for the antifriction wheels or rollers. The outer portions of said ring left after cutting the recesses when the parts are assembled extend out between the antifriction wheels or rollers, as best shown in Fig. 3, and serve to keep them from contact with each other. The ring C, being loosely mounted, is capable of movement and travels around at about half the speed of the rollers as the caster-housing revolves around the stem on the bearing-plate. By this means I secure an inexpensive means for holding the antifriction wheels or rollers in place, while at the same time permitting them the greatest freedom of movement and with a minimum amount of friction.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A caster composed of abearing-plate having a central hollow stem and an annular flange extending down therefrom at a distance from said stem, leaving an annular way or space between them, the housing carrying the wheel, said hollow stem extending through an opening therein and being secured thereto by the rivet 7", an annular flange formed on the top of the housing-plate a distance within the flange on the bearing-plate, a ring loosely mounted on the top of said flange and extending to near the flange of the bearing-plate, recesses being formed at intervals around its edge, the antifriction-wheels D mounted in said recesses, and a flange extending upward from the top of said ring in line with the flange of the bearing-plate, whereby supporting-walls for said wheels are formed on both sides of the way in which they travel, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 24th day of March, A. D. 1897.

WILLIAM H. TUCKER. 8.]

Witnesses:

Cnns'rnn BRADFORD, JAMES A. WALSH. 

